Interview with Marty McCormack

Interview with Marty McCormack – DS3 Rally Driver

Friday, 07 October 2011 09:54

How did you get in to rally driving?

My brother got me in to it; I was 20 and a clubman racer, the lowest level. I didn’t see being a professional rally driver as something that I could do, even though I wanted to do it. After the first year I moved to rounds in the British Championship.

How did you take it up a step?

It was Jimmy McCrae actually that said I should race something more modern because I was racing something historic.

What was the historic car?

It was a MK2 Escort.

How did you move up from the historic to the modern car that is similar to what you race now?

Jimmy put me in touch with a guy from the MSA and I got involved with the Young Drivers Scheme. That’s when I bought my first Citroen, a C2-R2. In 2008, I entered the Irish Cup organised by the Charles Hurst Group and won it. For winning that Citroen Sport awarded me with a new car which was an upgraded version of the C2-R2. I then used it to do the British Championship in 2009, I won it and won the Citroen Division and I won the Junior Championship. So then I went to France last year looking for some warmer climate! I will be back there this year for WRC France in the Alsace region.

Has it been difficult to find sponsorship?

Yes it is always difficult for drivers to find sponsorship and you have to be determined and keep going.

What do you do when you’re not rally driving?

I help with the family business. It’s very important to me to stay grounded and my family are very important to me. They support me and back me up 100% with my driving.

Have you always had a keen interest in cars?

Yes, when I was a teenager I used to modify my Peugeot 205 GTI and make it more powerful and go faster. We had so much fun!

In Ulster Marty had the first 2 wheel drive rally victory since 1999! Also it was the first regional win for the Top Gear Magazine car of the year Citroen DS3. This is impressive stuff and any driver currently competing in WRC should watch out because Marty McCormack is coming!

Marty took me round Curborough, a small sprint course in Staffordshire. I assured him that as long as we were going sideways or forwards I was a happy passenger!

Citroen UK provided race suits, helmets and HANS devices for safety, then I was strapped in to this raw high powered rally car and away we went. There was no hesitation on Marty’s part; he was off like a dog chasing a bone! What impresses me about rally drivers is that they are happiest when the car has lost traction and they seem to have an affinity to be able to guide the beast exactly where they want it to go; no matter what wheels are turning and where they are pointing – they have a gift that is very rare indeed. Unfortunately the bucket seat on the passenger side was so low down there was no chance of seeing exactly where we were heading, but I trusted him and enjoyed the thrilling ride, climbing out the car with a beaming smile on my face.